Respirator jacket



May 13, 1941. J. H. w. Bowl-:R

` REsPIRAToR JACKET Filed Oct. 3, 1958 Inl/en for. Josep/1 /WBo wer.

Patented May 13, 1941 Joseph H. W. Bower, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaApplication October 3, 1938, Serial N0. 232,948 In Canada October 4,1937 1 claim.

In the treatment of poliomyelitis where the respiratory organs areaffected in such a manner that the patient cannot perform the functionof breathing naturally it has been found necessary to place the patientWithin an air tight cabinet, which has become commonly known as the ironlung and by means of external apparatus create within said cabinet aregularly uctuating pressure to cause a regular exhalation andinhalation of air from and to the lungs of the patient.

Machines of the character above described are extremely costly and inthe event of an epidemic the demand very greatly exceeds even anextraordinary normal supply and unless artificial respiration can beinduced in the patient very quickly after the paralysis of the lungs isnoticed death ensues.

The principal objects of this invention are to enable surgeons, hospitalattendants and others to `create an equipment in a very limited timewhich will effectively protect the patient and enable the application ofarticial respiration, and further to devise a method of constructing acasing to envelop the respiratory section of the body which willeffectively withstand the continuous alternation of pressures, positiveand negative and which may be fashioned to fit an individual patient ormay be capable of adjustment to t patients of Variable sizes withincertain limited ranges, and which may be produced at an extremely lowcost.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novel formationof a shell or casque shaped to fit the contours of the back, chest andabdomen of the patient and in providing same with a resilient lining tocontact with the body and form an air seal therewith, the said shellhaving formed therein a cavity to extend over the pulsating respiratoryportion of the chest and abdomen and being provided with a tubularconnection to be connected with a pulsating air pressure device of asuitable form.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure l is an elevational view of the prone body of aperson showing in longitudinal mid-section a respiratory jacketconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken through the line 2-2 of Figure1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged and exaggerated sectional detail of a portion ofthe shell showing a manner of fabricating same.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the respiratoryjacket in elevation.

In carrying this invention into eiect a person to be tted with arespiratory jacket is rst molded in a plaster cast which is made toextend from the neck down to the waist or abdominal section. This isremoved and quickly dried and a model M (shown in the part in Figure 3)`of the patients body is then molded in the cast so made and caused toset as quickly as possible. The model is then covered with a layer b ofstockinette or suitable textile fabric to form a base for the shell, themodel being rst built up over the chest section preferably with plasterof Paris in a plastic state to whatever height may be desired in thefinished product in the form of a cavity.

A coating c of material such as cellulose acetate (Celluloid) is thenpreferably placed over the textile material and while such material isstill plastic it is encased in a covering b' of textile material of thesame nature.

A covering c of plaster is then applied and further coatings ofstockinette and cellulose acetate or plaster may be applied to bring theshell to the desired thickness so that when complete it will beextremely rigid.

It will be understood that a shell constructed as described will be verylight.

When the shell has been completed it is preferably dividedlongitudinally along the side walls so as to enable its being placedreadily in position upon the patient and may of course be easilyremoved.

'I'he shell sections A and B when separated are lined with a thickresilient lining C such as sponge rubber, the lining in the section Aextending only around the iiange portions a which extend around thecavity D. The lining of the section B is preferably turned outwardlyover the longitudinal edges, thereby forming gaskets against which themating longitudinal edges of the section A may be fitted.

Suitable straps E provided with fastening devices may be fastenedadjacent to the longitudinal division edges of both sections A and B toenable their being drawn tightly together and in such a manner thatsufcient pressure will be applied to ensure the sponge rubber liningforming an air seal contact with the body of the patient.

A device constructed as described when placed about the body of apatient provides a cavity extending o-ver the chest and abdomen so thatwhen air is exhausted from within the cavity the chest structure will belifted expanding the lungs and causing an inflow of air to the mouth andnostrils.

The'release of the vacuum or the application of air pressure to thecavity presses the lung structure of the patient inwardly causing theair therein to be expelled. The air seal eiected by the sponge rubberaround the neck opening and around the arms and the lower part of thebody prevents the'ingress of air to the cavity when the air has beendrawn therefrom by artificial means, reversely When pressure is appliedin the cavity the air pressure so applied cannot escape, with the resultthat by the attachment of a suitable type of pump to the pipe opening Fin the top of the shell cavity perfect respiratory conditions" may besimulated.

Such conditions maintain respiration of. the patient while allowing thearms and legs perfect freedom which will enable the applicationy ofsplints or the use of the limbs and it will also enable the patient toenjoy the comforts of a bed instead of being housed within the narrowconnnes of a totally enclosing cabinet.

Another andveryjimportant feature is that the hospital attendants mayattend the patient and I resilient material arranged around the cavityof the front section adapted to form an air seal with the patients body,a pad of sponge rubber lining upon the inner face of the back sectionfor both cushioning and sealing contact with the body and being extendedlaterally outward between the mating edges of said sections to form aseal, and means. for clamping the sections together with the laterallyextending portions o' said air seal compressed between the said matingedges.

JOSEPH H. W. BCWVER.A

